With many in a hurry to judge hurley v watts following the article in the HS a week back i wonder how many journos will come out and criticise Hurley on his game today. If Watts was out there the media would of jumped all over him for having a quiet day. Hurley looked out of sorts all day but nothing will be mentioned about it.

I write this as i am sick of the criticism Watto cops all the time whilst he learns and develops, and people don't want to be patient.

Well today Hurley showed big blokes take time to develop the difference is he wont cope the criticism that Watts will for quiet days on the park.

I will watch with interest to see if he copes any mention over the coming days!

Does Hurley play for Melbourne? If not, I'm not too concerned about him unless we're playing his team this week.

Tomorrow's lead article in the HUN is about why the Bombers missed out on drafting Ryan Schoenmakers.

Was thinking the same thing sitting at the game today. Hurley fumbled and shanked a number of balls but nothing will be said....

Heppell & Crammery will save Hurley's arse this week, if not for them it would have made the news IMO

Letting Shoenmakers through was actually the final clause in the Veale deal.

yes good thread. I watched all the game and Hurley was slow, reactive or basically non-existent. I watched him recently against Carlton and he was probably in Essendons bottom 5. the old athlete vs footballer debate continues as he is a footballer but was too slow today and cost them dearly.

interesting Hird said recently. if he isn't 'our most important player' now, then he will be in 10 weeks. a rookie coaches mistake I would have thought personally. was surprised he wasn't subbed but Monfries has been average.

i heard Hurely has 11 possesion in the last which suprised me but most were ineffectual.

i heard Hurely has 11 possesion in the last which suprised me but most were ineffectual.

He had 12 for the day...

yes good thread. I watched all the game and Hurley was slow, reactive or basically non-existent. I watched him recently against Carlton and he was probably in Essendons bottom 5. the old athlete vs footballer debate continues as he is a footballer but was too slow today and cost them dearly.

interesting Hird said recently. if he isn't 'our most important player' now, then he will be in 10 weeks. a rookie coaches mistake I would have thought personally. was surprised he wasn't subbed but Monfries has been average.

i heard Hurely has 11 possesion in the last which suprised me but most were ineffectual.

Hurley isn't slow. Watch as he competes in the air and then can pick the ball up at ground level. He was reactive today though.

He simply got smashed by a good defender (Tarrant) in a very good defence. Was he much worse than Riewoldt (the best CHF in the league) in 2 grand finals last year?

The problem is to play through your CHF against the pies is a disaster. You have to spread there defense and move the ball quickly, often going across the ground and down it.

Hird is spot on. Your CHF is your most important player. So Hurley is theirs and really Watts is ours.

Hurley isn't slow. Watch as he competes in the air and then can pick the ball up at ground level. He was reactive today though.

He simply got smashed by a good defender (Tarrant) in a very good defence. Was he much worse than Riewoldt (the best CHF in the league) in 2 grand finals last year?

The problem is to play through your CHF against the pies is a disaster. You have to spread there defense and move the ball quickly, often going across the ground and down it.

Hird is spot on. Your CHF is your most important player. So Hurley is theirs and really Watts is ours.

Yes the Filth's defence was rock solid today, particularly early...to Essendon's credit they did fight back, but in the First Q Essendon did not have a clue where to run. They were running, but not to the right spots.

With many in a hurry to judge hurley v watts following the article in the HS a week back i wonder how many journos will come out and criticise Hurley on his game today. If Watts was out there the media would of jumped all over him for having a quiet day. Hurley looked out of sorts all day but nothing will be mentioned about it.

I write this as i am sick of the criticism Watto cops all the time whilst he learns and develops, and people don't want to be patient.

Well today Hurley showed big blokes take time to develop the difference is he wont cope the criticism that Watts will for quiet days on the park.

I will watch with interest to see if he copes any mention over the coming days!

Are you kidding?

To date, Hurley has shown a lot more than Watts and therefore won't be criticized on today's performance.

The criticism Watts has received has developed because big blokes in the same draft such as Hurley have progressed a little quicker than he has.

Hurley is a better player and is having more influence in games compared to Watts in 2011, but I shall hold my hope that Watts will develop into the player he was drafted to be.

I'll wait a couple more years but I will say that I hope at least over next pre season, Beamer and Tapscott jump in the boxing ring with him and teach him

a bit of aggression.

Edited April 25, 201114 yr by stevethemanjordan

I just wish we had a couple of older key fwd... Watts could easily be the next pendlebury if we could play him on the wing/moving into the middle

Hurley isn't slow. Watch as he competes in the air and then can pick the ball up at ground level. He was reactive today though.

He simply got smashed by a good defender (Tarrant) in a very good defence. Was he much worse than Riewoldt (the best CHF in the league) in 2 grand finals last year?

The problem is to play through your CHF against the pies is a disaster. You have to spread there defense and move the ball quickly, often going across the ground and down it.

Hird is spot on. Your CHF is your most important player. So Hurley is theirs and really Watts is ours.

Then on the basis of "They Take time to develop" we are both in bother for the next few seasons!

It occured to me again yesterday that the pies have had a magic run with injuries.

surely they are due for a couple this side of QB.

Edited April 25, 201114 yr by old dee

Get bored with scenarios and hypothetical comparisons on players who have just started their careers

Always thought Hurley would be a High Draft Pick and his position at the time was KP Defender

Its interesting nobody is talking about John Butcher anymore

Even when Hurley is having an off day, he still involves himself in the game.

Jack Watts does not. End of Story.

Hurley = miles away from Jackie at this stage.

EssenLOL....

He was useless on Tuesday's match.

Still yet to see anything that hasn't come from team confidence from this kid.

.... Watts could easily be the next pendlebury if we could play him on the wing/moving into the middle

Ha ha ha ha. Good one.

Whatever you're taking, I'd like some.

Ed: your => you're

Edited April 26, 201114 yr by Mono

Still yet to see anything that hasn't come from team confidence from this kid.

You're talking about Hurley, yeah?....

Wow.

this week is watts week i think, that is if he plays, i am looking forward to seeing him do well, and i think he has a real good chance this week

Here I thought it was Naitanui that Watts wasn't supposed to be as good as and this week was the big clash? But it's now apparently Hurley. Oh well, as long as Watts is supposed to be not as good as someone I guess that's all that matters ...

Even when Hurley is having an off day, he still involves himself in the game.

Jack Watts does not. End of Story.

Hurley = miles away from Jackie at this stage.

Straight from the horses mouth.

With many in a hurry to judge hurley v watts following the article in the HS a week back i wonder how many journos will come out and criticise Hurley on his game today. If Watts was out there the media would of jumped all over him for having a quiet day. Hurley looked out of sorts all day but nothing will be mentioned about it.

I write this as i am sick of the criticism Watto cops all the time whilst he learns and develops, and people don't want to be patient.

Well today Hurley showed big blokes take time to develop the difference is he wont cope the criticism that Watts will for quiet days on the park.

I will watch with interest to see if he copes any mention over the coming days!

Good post.

All those idiots on tv who crap on, "Hurley hunts the ball, that's something Watts will never do."

Do me a favour.

Watts clearly has ability but produces it in patches which is not surprising given his age and the positions he plays. Watts often looks laconic and lacking intensity and he even appears slow at times even though he has blizted at the 20m trial at draft camp.

Watts is a number 1 draft pick and will always be scrutinised whether we like it or not. My only fear at this stage of his career is that the characteristics I have identified are closely aligned to the last number 1 draft pick we picked!

Hurley is so far ahead of Watts it isn't funny. Hurley has one bad game against the best side in the comp and people think he is no good?

Hurley runs hard, attacks the ball and can read the play. Watts is scared of body contact and makes critical errors. Sooner he is out of the 22 the better!

Hurley is so far ahead of Watts it isn't funny. Hurley has one bad game against the best side in the comp and people think he is no good?

Hurley runs hard, attacks the ball and can read the play. Watts is scared of body contact and makes critical errors. Sooner he is out of the 22 the better!

Actually his recent form is patchy. He's not that far ahead considering he's bigger bodied and had an extra preseason but go right ahead living in your depressing fantasy world. In my world Watts is progressing slowly with great skills but is showing a lack of aggression at this time.